Northwestern expects word on Kyle Prater in July

By Tom Fornelli | College Football Writer

June 28, 2012 12:29 PM ET

The NCAA is currently playing a large role in the success of the Northwestern passing game in 2012. Northwestern is still waiting to find out whether or not transfer wide receiver Kyle Prater will be eligible to play in the fall or will have to sit out the 2012 season.

Carlisle transferred to Notre Dame to be closer to his father, who left a job with the San Francisco 49ers to take a job with Purdue. Prater transferred back home to Northwestern -- he's from suburban Chicago -- to care for an ill family member.

Prater announced his transfer to Northwestern from USC in late January. After redshirting the 2010 season he caught only one pass for the Trojans in 2011. However, he did end up at USC as a highly touted recruit, as Prater was a five-star receiver out of high school and was considered the best wide receiver in the country by some scouting services.

Considering that both of Northwestern's leading receivers in 2011, Jeremy Ebert and Drake Dunsmore, have both moved on to the NFL, it needs as much talent as it can get at the position in 2012.